Editor

On Saturday, July 14th, 2007, the Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival will pay tribute one of the most influential and admired members of the LGBT community with “A Salute To Barbara Gittings”. This event marks the announcement of a new award which the Philadelphia Film Society will present annually to a recipient in the entertainment industry who stands for the gay/lesbian principles that Gittings dedicated her life to. In conjunction with the award, The Philadelphia Film Society will present a check for $1000.00 to the Barbara Gittings’ Collection at the Free Library of Philadelphia, Independence Branch.. This free event begins at 12:00noon at the Black Box location inside the Prince Music Theater.

For nearly 60 years, Barbara Gittings advocated and fought for equal rights for all within the LBGT community. Beginning in 1958, with the establishment of the East Coast chapter of the first lesbian organization, The Daughters of Bilitis, Barbara worked tirelessly as an activist for equality across all genders, regardless of sexual orientation. In honor of her work, and in a tribute to her recent passing (February 18th, 2007), the Philadelphia Film Society has created “The Barbara Gittings Award” which will be presented at future festivals to an “out” member of the entertainment industry who provides and promotes continual visibility for the LGBT community.

Although Barbara Gittings is dearly missed, the Philadelphia Film Society is pleased to have known her throughout the years and honored to establish this award in her name. Following a presentation which details “The Barbara Gittings Award”, there will be a screening of the documentary film, Gay Pioneers, in which she is featured. Among the guests in attendance will be Gittings’ life partner, Kay Tobin Lahusen and fellow activists Frank Kameny and Lilli Vincenz.